SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Linebacker Kyle Van Noy forced a fumble in theend zone and recovered it for a touchdown, and scored on a17-yard interception return, both in the fourth quarter, to leadBYU to a 23-6 victory over San Diego State in the PoinsettiaBowl on Thursday night.

The big plays swung the momentum for the Cougars (8-5) in whathad been a tedious defensive struggle. San Diego State (9-4),playing in the hometown bowl for the second time in three years,missed the chance for its first 10-win season since 1977 and hadits seven-game winning streak snapped.

Van Noy scored the game's first TD when he came free and hitAdam Dingwell's arm as he started to pass in the end zone,forcing and recovering a fumble for a 10-6 lead. The play wasruled a fumble, and the call stood after a video review

Dingwell fumbled the snap on SDSU's next play from scrimmage andit was recovered by Jordan Johnson at the 14. Jamaal Williamsscored on a run up the middle on the next play, BYU's second TDin 17 seconds.

With 6:09 left, Van Noy intercepted Dingwell's pass and weavedthrough traffic and into the end zone. Van Noy was selected thegame's defensive MVP.

Dingwell finished with five turnovers, including threeinterceptions. Four of his turnovers were in the fourth quarter.

As big as the defensive plays were for the Cougars, their puntunit came up huge in pinning down the Aztecs four times in thesecond half. They downed two punts by Riley Stephenson at the 1,one at the 2 and another at the 3.

Until Van Noy and Williams scored, the game was a field positionstruggle.

San Diego State led 6-3 at halftime thanks to Chance Marden'sfield goals of 27 and 23 yards. Justin Sorensen kicked a23-yarder for BYU.

San Diego State's Eric Pinkins intercepted Riley Nelson's passand returned it 39 yards for a touchdown in the second quarterbut the score was negated by a penalty for blocking below thewaist. SDSU ended up punting from the BYU 36.

James Lark, who started at quarterback for BYU, completed 23 of42 passes for 244 yards and was intercepted twice.

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